Another great book from Anthony Franze. I’ve read other books by this author this one was just as good as those. I really enjoyed the story and the characters were well thought out.

I can see why this is compared to John Grisham and the likes….it’s certainly aiming for that level and the premise is definitely unique. Franze writes about the Supreme Court in a way that shows some thorough research or experience is obvious.
What didn’t work for me was some parts that were over described or even overindulged meaning the pace was a bit of a rollercoaster that I just couldn’t fully enjoy…. Would definitely like to see how the author progresses with writing style or if it’s just not to my liking

This is the second book that I’ve read by the author and was pleasantly surprised to find it as intriguing and suspenseful as the first one.
Great characters, plenty of twists to keep me reading and engaged throughout the whole book and some unpredictable turns that I haven’t seen coming my way.
I will be reading more by the author in the future because I really enjoyed this title.

Very grateful to the publisher for my review copy

Really enjoying this series as they go on.
The plot and the characters are really growing on me.
I am slightly addicted I have read this book in a couple of days i just could not put it down.

This book was written a long time before Every Last Fear (which I loved) and to me, it showed.
I would have liked the book to have been in more of a gripping style, but this one didn't grip me as much.
The characters were plenty, and again I struggled with this aspect and think some parts could have been omitted to really keep me engaged throughout.
I feel like it really highlighted Finlay's growth as a writer, and I would definitely continue to read his books!

A well written and engaging thriller in the genre showcased by authors such as John Grisham. Strong characters and a myriad of twists and turns to keep you guessing.

3.5 stars

A gripping legal thriller, though at times it did drag, ‘The Outsider’ by Anthony Franze will sate your appetite for the twists at turns as Grayson Hernandez navigates is way through the maze with a target on his back. This book has been compared to Grisham and Turow for a reason.

Thanks to Netgalley and Head Of Zeus for providing this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Gray is a recent law school graduate who doesn’t have good enough credentials to get a job anywhere but in the mail room. Then he saves the Chief Justice from a mugging and in return the chief gives him a clerking job. Things don’t stay copacetic for long and Gray finds himself trying to solve some crimes.

This was a good book with interesting insights into how the Supreme Court works. My only complaint is there were a lot of characters to keep straight. Otherwise it was a good mystery and a surprising ending.

Wow, this was a great introduction to the author. Having enjoyed thrillers by John Grisham, I'm partial to legal thrillers occasionally, and after reading this I would happily pick up this author again.

Whilst I'm British and don't really have a understanding of the legal system in the UK or the US, the author puts enough detail in to understand the processes. The other good thing about this is that it doesn't take you away from the story by boring you in the detail of the law, but gives some great descriptions of the relevant buildings and roles.

If you have enjoyed Grisham novels previously, give this a go. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

I was given a free ARC copy of the book by NetGalley and the publisher in return for my honest review.

Murder/mysteries at the Supreme Court

I make no apology for grouping all three of these murder/mysteries together. In fact, Amazon describes each in the same way - “A suspenseful legal thriller with a shock ending.” The first was an enjoyable read; the second palled a little and the third had a feeling of déjà vu about it.

The Outsider features Gray Hernandez, a messenger who works at the Supreme Court and who works as a law clerk after saving the life of Chief Justice Douglas. The plot was fresh and different and would have merited four stars.

The main character of The Last Justice is Solicitor General, Jefferson McKenna, who is trying to determine who and why gunned down 5 Supreme Court Justices. The motive is unclear, but it is sure to involve corruption and political intrigue.

The Advocate’s Daughter features lawyer Sean Serrat whose daughter goes missing and is found murdered in the Supreme Court’s library. As the main protagonist, it was difficult to relate to Serrat. His past is key to the solution, but his character is a little two dimensional to make the plot sufficiently interesting.

Clearly, Alex Finlay knows a good deal about the Supreme Court and its workings and feels comfortable in using it as a setting for his novels. The writing is good; the characters, in the main, come through strongly and are believable but the novels themselves felt a bit stale and in need of a good dose of fresh air. Overall, though a solid average of three stars.

mr zorg

Elite Reviewing group received a copy of the book to review.

I love a good legal thriller. Something to get the mind working, heart racing and having you on the edge of your seat. Great writing, great characters and a great storyline!

This could easily have been Grisham, but it wasn’t. One of the best books I have read recently, and one thank kept you thinking about the eventual outcome from early on as you turned the pages.
Recommend.

A strong legal thriller which manages to convincingly engage the reader in a world which is not visible to most people. There is a lot of detail in this book which, for me, disrupted the pace a bit. The characters are well developed and the dialogue flows well but I did find the premise of the protagonist being approached by the FBI a bit far fetched.

Grayson has a law degree and is a messenger in the Supreme Court, and wants nothing more than to be a law clerk.
Grayson intervenes in one of the justices being attacked and his dream comes true, but is it a dream with a price?
Great thriller and written with detail and twists and turns.
Read this in just over a day - could not put it down.

Anthony Franze’s third book, The Outsider is a highly anticipated legal thriller. His practice lawyer (in Washington, D.C. law firm) experience and adjunct professor of law knowledge imbues the narrative and adds authenticity to the story. Set in the United States Supreme Court, Grayson Hernandez a young law clerk is tasked by the FBI to assist in the discovery of a serial killer. A suspenseful enough psychological thriller that does stretch credibility is entertaining, with a three-star rating. With thanks to the author and NetGalley for a preview copy for review purposes. All opinions expressed herein are bias free and totally my own.

This is another of Alex Finlay's, writing as Anthony Franze, supreme court thrillers, an exciting and twisted novel. Ambitious Mexican-American Grayson 'Gray' Hernandez comes from a hard working, if impoverished family, from the notorious Hamilton Heights district of Washington DC. With his father's illness, he attended the local university law school, now working as a messenger in the Supreme Court building, observing the elite, privileged, Ivy league law clerks to the Justices on a everyday basis. This is a position he would give his eye teeth for, but knowing it is never going to happen, he just doesn't have the background required, he is the outsider. All this changes when Gray saves the life of Chief Justice Douglas in a mugging, he becomes the 37th law clerk, although his fellow clerks are far from welcoming, not seeing him as one of them.

With the Chief Justice's backing, Gray embraces his new role, working hard, it is the opportunity of a life time, a path towards the affluence and recognition he understandably craves, although his family and friends from childhood, like the photographer Sam, are more sceptical and less starry eyed about the new social and political circles he is now moving in. Being a good guy, Gray finds himself working undercover at work when FBI Special Agent Emma Milstein asks for his help in finding a dangerous killer that she believes is operating from within the building. Milstein is convinced there is a connection between a theatre fire and the death of a reporter, the horrifying Dupont family murders, and the attack on Douglas, all of which occurred on the 5th day of the months they occurred in. As the nightmare killings continue, Gray finds himself a suspect, and the only people he can rely on are his family and childhood friends, like Arturo Alvarez, who are willing to risk their lives to help him.

Finlay uses his insider knowledge to great effect in this legal thriller, lending an authenticity to his depiction of the workings of the Supreme Court and the building. There is a blend of fact and fiction in the historical and current cases that appear in this fast paced, engaging and entertaining read, packed with twists, keeping the interest of the reader easily with its short snappy chapters and with the nail biting build of suspense and tension. Recommended to those who love their legal thrillers. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

Grayson is an outsider,who wants nothing more than to be an insider at the Supreme Court where he works as a messenger, however he does not expect to become embroiled in murder and intrigue as he does and he solves the case the action intensifies and the book becomes a really good thriller ,great descriptive writing of the Supreme Court system combined with fast paced writing made this a very enjoyable read